Women's Elite Individual Time Trial
1. Linda Villumsen, New Zealand - 40:29
2. Anna van der Breggen, Netherlands - 40:32
3. Lisa Brennauer, Germany - 40:36
Image from Graham Watson
After coming so close so many times, New Zealand rider Linda Villumsen produced the performance of her life to win Gold in the Elite Women's Individual Time Trial at the UCI Road World Championships.
For the past six years Villumsen has performed strongly in the discipline with five podium finishes, however gold has always eluded her....Until now. The win makes Villumsen the first New Zealand cyclist to win an elite road world championship. She covered the two-lap 30km circuit in 40:29:87 at almost 45km p/h, pipping Anna van der Breggen (NED) by only 2.5 seconds. Defending champion Lisa Brennauer (GER) placed third.
Villumsen had this to say after her historic victory, “It was my best ride ever. I have nothing bad to say – I had a good team around me, the perfect knowledge over the radio, perfect legs and nothing really went wrong. It was the perfect course for me – lots of corners, lots of rhythm changes and a little bit of wind and a small climb.”
"I just can't believe it, I really can't believe it. I came in with a big motivation and with the best team around me, it was just incredible."
We picked it: "Danish-born Kiwi Linda Villumsen to be a contender. In form and with huge power"
American Kristin Armstrong set the early time, which stood until the final four riders took to the course. The top four were separated by less than ten seconds in the end creating one of the best individual time trial races for which event organisers could have asked.
All the focus now switches to the road race where Villumsen will hope to do the double and then set her sights on Rio 2016.
“Right now I am just happy that I have qualified for Rio and over the moon to be wearing this rainbow jersey. It is just incredible. I may wear it for a bit – it smells a bit now. But once it is washed I might just wear it around for a bit. It looks great.”
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